Description:

The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities and Bioethics Program
Presents in Co-Sponsorship with the
Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR)

Keolu Fox, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology
University of California, San Diego

Wayfinding Through the Human Genome

Keolu’s research uses genetic data to rewrite the narratives of Indigenous people, emphasizing that the human genome, much like the vast Pacific Ocean, contains clues about our history, health, and future. By studying the genomes of Polynesian descendants of ancient navigators, his work not only highlights the complex migration patterns that brought them to distant islands like Hawaii and Tahiti but also offers insights into modern health challenges faced by these communities. In this lecture, Keolu will discuss how genomics can serve as a tool for land reclamation, public health improvements, and cultural preservation. He emphasizes the need for ethical, community-driven research models that prioritize benefit-sharing and cultural sustainability over extractive scientific practices. By incorporating Indigenous values and decision-making, his approach seeks to return agency to the communities that have historically been marginalized in genomic studies. Keolu’s vision extends beyond academia, with aspirations to develop mobile genomic technologies that could bring research directly to remote communities, revolutionizing conservation genetics and healthcare delivery. This lecture will provide a fascinating look at how the past informs the future, offering a new path forward in genomics that aligns with the global push toward inclusivity, equity, and sustainability in science.

This annual lecture is named in honor of Carlos Montezuma, the first Native American graduate of Northwestern University’s medical school.

This lecture is open to the public and will be held in the Searle Seminar Room in the Lurie Research Building (303 E Superior), Chicago Campus. For those outside the Chicago area and anyone who would prefer to attend remotely, a Zoom option is also available.

**REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ZOOM ATTENDANCE ONLY**
REGISTER HERE

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Description:

The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities & Bioethics Program

Presents

A Montgomery Lecture

With

Panelists:

Sarah B. Rodriguez, PhD
Associate Professor of Instruction, Global Health Studies
Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences
Lecturer, Medical Education, Feinberg School of Medicine
Faculty, Graduate Program in Medical Humanities & Bioethics

Katie Watson, JD
Professor of Medical Education, Medical Social Sciences, and OB/GYN
Faculty, Graduate Program in Medical Humanities & Bioethics
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Chloe Matovina, MD, MA
OB/GYN Resident
Alum, MD/MA in Medical Humanities &
Bioethics Dual-Degree Program
Northwestern Medicine

30 Days Out: Medicaid and Consent to Sterilization in the US 

Since the 1970s, people insured by Medicaid who want a tubal ligation or vasectomy need to consent to a sterilization at least 30 days before the procedure. This rule was inspired by a history of unconsented sterilizations and designed to prevent future abuse. Performing a tubal ligation at the time of delivery is the safest and most efficient practice for pregnant people who will be finished with their childbearing after they deliver and want the procedure, yet in practice the 30-day rule has prevented some patients insured by Medicaid from getting this standard-of-care treatment package. Some argue this waiting period is no longer clinically or ethically justifiable, and obstetrician objections to this policy have escalated in recent years. A reproductive rights attorney, a reproductive health historian, and a second-year OBGYN resident will discuss historical, clinical, and legal aspects of this waiting period, and consider arguments for removing and keeping it.

This lecture is open to the public and will be held in the Searle Seminar Room in the Lurie Research Building (303 E Superior), Chicago Campus. For those outside the Chicago area and anyone who would prefer to attend remotely, a Zoom option is also available.

**REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ZOOM ATTENDANCE ONLY**
REGISTER HERE

Read more about this series | Sign up for lecture announcements